Subject: Purchase Requisition #39171
to purchase a street sweeper for the Public Works Department

Staff
Recommendation:

Staff
recommends approval of the purchase requisition for a street sweeper to
Container Systems, Inc. for $149,440.00

Analysis:

The
Fleet Services Division requested purchase of a new regenerative air street
sweeper to replace an existing street sweeper, unit 961. The unit being
replaced is a 2001 Schwarze A7000 air street sweeper, the same make and model
that is being recommended.

Fleet
Services tested both a regenerative air street sweeper and a traditional
brush/broom street sweeper. The regenerative air street sweeper uses primarily
vacuum to collect debris from the street and area being swept. A brush/broom
street sweeper relies mostly on brushes or rotating brooms and some vacuum to
collect debris from the street. A regenerative air street sweeper typically
performs better in this area of the country where we have smaller debris such
as sand. Broom sweepers perform better in other areas of the country where
there is larger debris such as leaves.

Both
the broom and regenerative sweeper are available on the Florida Sheriffs
Association contract. The Fleet Services Division selected the Schwarze A7000
regenerative sweeper as the preferred unit. Staff feels the regenerative air
sweeper is better suited to the type of work required of the unit with the
City of Leesburg.

Staff
recommends purchase of the demonstration unit that was tested. This unit is
being made available to the City with a full warranty just as if it were
purchased new. The City is receiving a $5,000 discount on the purchase of the
demonstration unit. A detailed vendor price quote is attached for your review.

The
City will use the Florida Sheriffs Association Bid No. 07-15-0827 for this
purchase. Each year the Florida Sheriffs Association prepares specifications for
a multitude of vehicles and equipment. The specifications are issued in an
invitation to bid. The association then awards contracts to various vendors
throughout the State of Florida. The process is bid openly and competitively.
The Sheriff’s contract is available for use by municipalities and saves our
City and other agencies considerable time.